FARMAID
I'm certain you're ahead of me on this, but please post Farm Aid
Peace, Big Change for the Better,
JG
JG,
Thanks for sending this in.
LOVE
be well
neil
WHEN I WAS 19
Dear Neil, I remember writing to you when I was 19.
Sometimes, now, I have to meow along with you, so I don’t cry singing with you. Meowing with you is pretty good therapy.
Don’t you love Farley Mowat and Tom Brown, Jr? I’m reading Slow Down by Kohei Saito.
Big Love
My dad took me to Farley’s home when i was very young. I always remember that visit.
LOVE and be well
Neil
10 STARS
NYA. Hello from kento … great app great webpage … thank you!! For all you do!!! 10 stars bros…. Kento
Thanks Kento!
LOVE
be well
neil
SPRING 2004
I got nowhere to go, end of my rope, I’m a lost dog chasing his tail.
I tried to jump out an open window the other day, true story. A pain so bad, the need to quit, and yet moments later I was getting a laugh. Comedy is a labyrinth of the dark that tells a light of truth in the shape of fiction.
* * *
phone rings call display: I answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey Ryan, it’s your grandpa Neil”
“Noo it’s not …”
“Uh ehuha, can I speak to your grandmother” …. “Yes, oh hello! Well yes, it’s okay. He’s good to doubt it after all”
She proceeded to then lay upright with her feet on the couch in the living room on the north wall as she would do, and had a nice conversation with you.
I was 10.
I knew the second I handed the phone off I had made a mistake, seeing as I wanted to answer the phone, but surely my head could be spinning as of what to say or make of it then.
I suppose things worked out anyhow, certainly being told to forget in a matter of a laundry list of things to do with my life.…
Spring 2004? Meh.
I don’t care about the money, fame, whatever.
I get to live my dream every time there’s a chance to play music. and pops.… don’t doubt it; I’m a badass musician and I sing just like a bird.
I’m happy for you and your music.
Music is healer!
Love Neil
be well
COASTAL FILM POSTERS
Coastal 27x40
Shakey, Could you put a few of the 27x40 official Coastal film posters in the Greedy Hand please? Thx, Currently i own all of Shakey Pictures’s one-sheets with the exception of Harvest Time which is nearly impossible to find.
Thanks J
Yes J, I will make sure that happens
Love
and be well
neil
OVER THE YEARS
Hi Neil
Wow! Lots of happy fans. I noticed that you are starting out in Sweden. Over the years, I have met friends on Facebook who are also your fans from all over the world. Not always sure if they are real. I am much more selective these days. One in particular stands out.
Percy Thrower was their name and they were working on a project regarding reincarnation and musicians. It was really cool. I often, suggested that they try and reach out to you. That was before NYA.
We’ve lost touch over the years. But I do wonder if they ever had the chance to share their project with you.
I hope you and yours are well in these times. Thanks for giving your fans something to look forward to this summer.
Much love,
Linda
Thanks Linda
I am looking forward to it too. I wish it was right now!
LOVE
and be well
neil
TICKETS
Disappointed at how presale offer for U.K. Hyde Park while people with right phone or credit card get priority now in queue for general admission thanks
Concert tickets suck today.
I hope the music makes up for it.
Love
and be well
Neil
TICKETS
Hi Neil, what happened to notifications for the ticket pre-sale?
I've missed the tickets for 'BST' Hyde Park (sponsored by American Express by the way, are you aware of this?) by hours it seems and am now getting rinsed out by Ticketmaster, which keeps throwing me off their system every 90 seconds! Very frustrating for your loyal fans :-(
I’ll see you there … Cheers, Danny Witt
Danny
SORRY!
Hope you make it through the ticket crap to see the show!
Love
Neil
Be well
* * *
Hi Neil, sorry about my last message—think I jumped the gun a bit! 🫢 The tix for Hyde Park weren’t through your NYA presale, so possibly that’s why I didn’t get a notification on my ‘smart’ phone, however I didn’t get any notifications for the shows with a presale through NYA either, so think this comment holds; these tix could have been announced in the same way, with NYA presale, they’re all through the dreaded Ticketmaster! Further, as your previous Hyde Park show with Bob in 2019 was originally billed as Barclaycard presents BST with … and you subsequently stipulated you wouldn’t play under corporate sponsorship, I’m sure you would do the same again here, although the damage will already have been done by the Amex presale currently underway, in which only Amex credit card holders are eligible to purchase “pre-sale” tickets. As a result, I was unable to buy any now (for me & my daughter) and I will no doubt have to pay a lot more to buy some, if I’m lucky enough to be able to do so, in the general sale starting on Wednesday at 10am. When most people are working. For graded tickets where you pay more to get in the pit. Where there are VIP ticket holders being wined and dined in another exclusive area. Nothing about this show, the way it’s presented at least, fits with your ethos. I expect the concessions will be anything other than “Homegrown.”
On another topic, thank you so much for making the Archives Adaptor ‘hat for dad’ that I requested a couple of years back when I was undergoing chemo for NH lymphoma. I’ve been in remission for over a year now and prospects are good. Thanks to the dedicated workers in our NHS and your music cleansing my soul. Little Eddie is now two and doing really well, I’m so glad to be still here to see my beautiful boy grow.
All the best
Dan
Hey Dan
Happy for you and your boy!
At least I got to play outside for you.
LOVE Neil
Be well
EUROPEAN TOURS
Hi Neil,
An unexpected World tour, including Europe! I was there, Ahoy Rotterdam 1976, when you did your first European tour. A poster in two-color print I bought at the show is still hanging on the wall of my (typical German) ‘party Keller.’ Almost 50 years old. I bought tickets for Mönchengladbach, not too far away from where I live.
Stay well and healthy, probably quite needed with such a big tour! The years are counting now, so take care!
See you soon, on the road, Jan
Thanks Jan
Enjoy the music!
LOVE
NEIL
Be well
TICKETS
Hello Neil
I really really love your music … But the ticket price to get to see you in Brussels next June is just too High … What a pity! I'm from Paris, there's no concert in France…. I must go to Belgium (Train + Hotel and then the high ticket price …)
It is way too much! Is it Ticketmaster or what?
Cheers
David
David,
It’s everything.
Too complicated. Not like it was.
Hoping the music lives!!!!
LOVE
NEIL
Be well
TICKETS
Hey Neil, Glad yer go’n back on the road. Really excited for all fankind that can afford the price of admission & associated fees. I wish you & “The boys in the band” good health and safe travels. I’m sure yer aware @LiveNation venues they now practice “All In” pricing, which you have to agree to before proceeding to purchase tickets. This is the point where I exited. All in pricing means less transparency and higher, multiple fees. Last year @Forest Hills, the ticket vendor was AXS. Way more transparent with the fees charged. Still high, but the spotlight on fees charged probably kept them in check? I know there are neighborhood noise issues @Forest Hills Queens that are not an issue @Jones Beach BUT, LiveNation? C’mon. Seriously. That monopoly is the evil empire. Nosebleeds start @$109. Similar floor seats I had @Forest Hills are minimally $200 more here. Please tell me that when you don’t sell this one out you’ll at least agree to LiveNation’s 2fer or 4fer deals. There were other nearby outdoor choices in the downstate, NYC, Long Island area. You stopped at two of them last year in Homdel & Bridgeport. Just say’n. This will be the first tour I won’t be able to attend since 1983’s “A Solo Evening With.” Thanks fer the presale. How ‘bout some pay per livestreams OR streams on Movietone?
Herb Hesse
Holbrook
Herb
This may be my last tour if I can’t get around this shit and do it another way.
LOVE Neil
Be well
GREENDALE
Dear Neil,
Wishing you peace of mind and heart during these times.
Amidst today’s uncertainties, lately I have found myself listening a lot to Greendale—not to mention, my puppy Bandit is named after your song from that album :). Thank you for this beautiful work so jam-packed with wisdom and heart; its messages only get stronger with age. “A little love and affection” … truly ahead of its time.
So I recently checked out the live performance of Return to Greendale in Movietone, and there is a gorgeous acoustic take of “Be the Rain” that rolls over the final credits … wow! Where else can we hear this? Hoping it will make an appearance on Archives IV!
Thank you for all that you do, now and always.
Love, Kaleen
Kaleen
Thanks for that.
LOVE
Neil
be WELL
I’ll check into the acoustic version of BE THE RAIN
During the end credits for Return To Greendale there is an acoustic version of Be The Rain. This performance is from Vicar Street and is available on DVD at the Greedy Hand store,
jackstaw
CRIME IN THE CITY
Crime in the city (60 to zero) … part 1. Please release part 2. It’s always been my favourite song of yours. An absolute masterpiece in songwriting and artistic expression. Play it acoustic with the band this year.
Cheers,
T-bone
T bone
Part 2 is 60-0
LOVE and Be well
neil
APPRECIATION
This is an appreciation letter. I have been a live long fan all of my 30 years on earth. I am grateful to have finally seen Mr. Young play live in Virginia 2024 and I will be seeing him again, closer to home, on August 15. I’d just like to let Mr. Young know that if he hears his music blaring loudly while he is Ohio that it will be coming from my very own wedding the next day! It would be my first beautiful life moment with Neil young’s music playing at the forefront. Whoever is reading this, please let Mr. Young know that should he happen to stumble upon us he is of course welcome in for a drink. And Neil if you are actually reading this, WE LOVE YA
I always read these Letters!
LOVE NEIL
Happy Life!
Be well
COMMENT
Hi Neil. The following is more comment than question, but my life has been inspired by you so even knowing you might read the comment is fun. In the ’90s I was in college. You were kicking ass. With 30 years to look at it now, you were kicking a ton of it. You are going on tour this year—some of the greatest songs of ALL TIME written by anyone suddenly appeared from you in the ’90s and ’00s. You could build your entire tour around Toast. Some of the great ’90s and ’00s songs got airtime on tours. It was amazing to hear—Ragged Glory, Broken Arrow, Harvest Moon, Silver and Gold, Greendale, LOW all had tours. Then in ’07 we were all so happy you found your way back to ’70s brilliance. Hearing Ambulance Blues and Try and Sad Movies in NYC was existential for me. I went to most all of the tours—it felt great. Hartford CT ’91, Tanglewood MA ’92, Jones Beach and New Jersey Pavilion ’93, Great Woods ’96 or ’97, Orpheum in Boston ’99, Greendale twice: MSG and Radio City, CSNY ’00, ’02, ’05 … and on. But the more time has passed the more that pocket of your music is missing somehow. We all understand you have to play what you’re feeling now—I’m writing the letter to see if maybe thinking about this (from random fan’s perspective) might inspire a feeling. Just a feeling.
The limits of time and opportunity mean that so many of these most amazing songs from ’90s and ’00s haven’t had a chance—time is growing short. You’ll be remembered for hundreds of years. There will be songs about your songs and people playing your songs—you used to say your catalogue of songs was like a heavy coat you’d wear around, or something like that—referring to the songs people wanted to hear. I hope you don’t take this letter as that. Some of these have had a chance to show off a bit. But they are there waiting for you … And they are just a few.
Differently, How Ya Doin, Timberline, Gateway of Love, Change Your Mind, Prime of Life, Sleeps with Angels, Good to See You, Looking Forward….
You aren’t comparable—but Mozart to me sounds about right. Cheers Neil. Stay safe and well.
The music and the times are different for each person in their lives.
Love
and enjoy
Be well
neil
MAGA MAN
Dear Mr. Young/Neil Young Archives Team, I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out as a longtime fan of Neil Young and a subscriber to NYA. I’ve recently recorded a parody of Southern Man titled MAGA Man (Canada Ain’t Your 51st State), which is a Canadian response to recent discussions about annexation and the broader MAGA influence. This parody is meant as a tribute to Neil’s legacy of political and social commentary through music. While I could never do it as well as he does, I wanted to use this song to express the importance of protecting democracy—something I know Neil has been vocal about. I wanted to share the video with you and, of course, express my hope that Neil wouldn’t mind. I have nothing but respect for his music and message, and I hope this aligns with the spirit of his work. You can find the video here.
Thank you for your time, and I appreciate everything you do at NYA to preserve and share Neil’s incredible legacy. Best regards,
Terry
In a town North Ontario, Canada
Terry
Thanks!!!
Good one….
Love
and enjoy
Be well
neil
BERLIN AGAIN!
Hi Neil
Looking forward to making the trip from UK to see you in Berlin this coming summer.
Please can you release the Jonathan Demme Heart of Gold film as a soundtrack? On vinyl?
Thanks!
It’s coming
LOVE Neil
be well
47
Neil,
I'm curious to know how you feel about fans of yours that voted for 47 considering you are so vehemently against him?
Excited to see you and the chrome hearts this August in Bethel, New York. (Thanks NYA presale!)
Noah
Noah
I love the fans, Everyone has a right to vote for their choice. THAT IS AMERICA.
Music transcends!
LOVE and BE WELL
Neil
SADDENED
Hi Neil,
Scheduling a concert in Ukraine is marvelous! I admire your efforts to make life better for those in hardships. I am saddened by Trumps actions towards Ukraine. The US voting against the U.N. resolution against Russian was sickening. I haven't minded the exposing of waste and scams which Musk has been doing. I feel sorry for those who have lost jobs. However, in the corporate world, job losses are a fact of life due to downturns, management changes or inefficiencies. Often times I have heard people comment about being envious of those working for the government because they don't have to worry about losing their job. I want the government to run efficiently, so I have no idea if the cuts are justified or not.
I don't think the election was as much a vote for Trump but rather a no confidence vote for Harris. I wish there was a campaign spending limit so more people could have a chance to be elected. Right now, people with big money behind them seem to have the upper hand.
As I have heard you say in an interview some years ago, corporations own the government. If the wealthy are not paying their fair share of taxes, it is because of utilizing the tax loopholes that have been approved by Congress. I'm sure those loopholes are there because of being beholding to those who paid for their election.
Thank you for giving a ride on Three Rail World. It was cool.
Best wishes to you and the Chrome Hearts on the Love Earth World tour. Along with enjoying the wonderful music, I hope everyone is inspired to love, cherish and respect the earth and each other as well.
Love,
Mary Jane
Mary Jane
I think the job cuts are wrong. They are being done very badly. This is all part of Project 2025 and has been planned in advance, not by 47. It is not a good thing. It is heading for an Oligarchy.
LOVE
and Be well
neil
VIVA!
Viva la Resistance!
In a world full of first-class butt kissers we can always count on you to do the right thing! I hope you are able to work out the details to make a free concert for Ukraine possible. They are brave and hardy people, and their leader exemplifies what a leader should be: brave and strong, with a good spirit, and fighting for the very existence of his country. Very few could ever compare with you as a singer, songwriter, and musician, but you’re a pretty darn good human too.
Sending love, gratitude, and admiration.
Be well, you and Daryl.
Irene S.
Thanks Irene
I hope it can happen. We have a venue close to a shelter.
With the news for the USA it may not even be there.
Scary times.
LOVE and Be well
Neil
DEER CREEK
Deer Creek Solo Acoustic. 9/12/92
Hello—I tried to contact you a couple of weeks ago. I directed the Solo Deer Creek Show for the Lawn Video. A friend sent me a link of "From Hank to Hendrix" from that night. Neil's stage manager requested we record a copy for them and I was surprised it took over 30 years for something to come of it. It was a BRILLIANT concert and Neil was so affable to the audience, it truly seemed like a living room show.
Anyway, I've seen rumblings of you guys releasing the entire show. Any truth to that? Thanks.
Jeff Breiner
Its a great piece of work Thanks!
This is going to be in Volume 4
Neil
LOVE
Be well
UKRAINE
Hey Neil,
Thanks for your support of Ukraine I was appalled with the recent meeting between the Orange Turd, little Hitler and his sidekick. They way they treated Zelensky was typically abhorrent. I just wanted to show my appreciation that you want to give back.
I am trying to fly from Sacramento to Seattle to meet up with a bunch of buddies from Everett to see you at the beautiful Gorge at George.
Last time I saw you there was when Pearl Jam and Blind Melon played and they had that riot. You played like you were angry at the crowd. I don’t know if it was my imagination but it was a crazy affair!
Keep On Rockin' In The Free World!
Thanks for being there
LOVE
BE WELL
Neil
HYDE PARK
Hi again Neil,
Thank you so much for replying to my last message—if the recording of "Shots" from the Boarding House was your first time performing it, then it's all the more extraordinary.
Just wanted to say that I've literally just bought a ticket for your Hyde Park show on July 11th. This will be the second time I’ll have seen you there. I last saw you with Promise of the Real when you co-headlined with Bob Dylan. That was an extraordinary show! I'm also excited by your enthusiasm for the new Chrome Hearts release.
I wish you all safe travels when you hit the road.
Take care,
Ru
Ru
I look forward to playing in Hyde Park!
LOVE and Be well
neil
SUMMER OF DEMOCRACY
Hi Neil,
Thank you for kicking off the Summer of Democracy tour in Ukraine. It is a powerful statement of support. We must show our Ukrainian friends that not all Americans have turned their backs on their fight for freedom.
Please consider partnering with an organization like UNITED24 to livestream the show—perhaps requiring a donation from viewers outside of Ukraine to view the stream.
Best,
Alex W.
Thanks Alex
I passed the idea on to management.
LOVE
BE WELL
Neil
DISCONCERT
I have to say Neil, I find this idea of you going to play in Ukraine very disconcerting. I think the only reason any Western civilian should be going to Ukraine in 2025 is if they are willing to pick up a gun and actively join the fight for Freedom.
If you wanted to sneak into Ukraine, solo or with your band, and play a special performance for certain people who could really use it, that would probably be really wonderful and generate the kind of news that would bring more attention to this important issue.
But out in the world of your Fan community, I see people trying to plan trips to Ukraine to go see this concert. They think it would be a great adventure. I think you're asking people to go into a war zone! A real literal war zone, where people are dying every day, where people of a country are fighting for the survival of their nation.
And you're asking your fans to go there on a lark. An amazing adventure "to show support”—but it requires these people, in deep need of support, to feed, to house and to protect these people for however many days, even if just overnight. And universe forbid, if something tragic happens, to have to provide care and medical attention to people who really should be back in their safe homes. PLUS Putin would love it: taking out an event like this, and Trump wouldn't do anything to stop it.
But hey, if you want to get yourself and some of your fans killed, I know I care—but it's your lives. The thing that I care about more is the pressure that this kind of event would put on the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government at this time when they're fighting for their lives, and it is not appropriate. They won't say no, but you know they have more important stuff on their plate.
I think if you really wanted to make a massive statement for Ukraine, you would replace the big "Love Earth" banner behind your stage with a big Ukrainian flag, as big as the Texas flag behind Willie on stage every night. It'll piss off people in every city across the United States for sure, and perhaps all across Europe as well.
You will hear boos, but that would be making a bold statement, bringing it to the people of the west; people who are free out, enjoying a rock show, out enjoying the life and the freedom that the people of Ukraine deserve. That would make a massive statement, every single night, in every single city. Flying the flag of Ukrainian freedom behind your stage, all across Europe and all across the United States, is a bolder and more consistent message than ducking in and out of a war zone will ever be.
Thanks for listening.
Your fan,
-Pete Culliney
Thanks Pete
Lots to think about there…..
Ukraine people are dying Pete. Recognize how supporting them with love and music shows we care for them as humans, especially after abandoning them and joining the enemy who attacked them in the beginning.
I am not asking Americans to go there “on a lark” as you say. You are the one who seems focused on only the Americans who may come. No where do I ask for that. I would not recommend them coming. That’s not what this is about. I am not inviting Americans at all.
This music is for the people of UKRAINE.
If Putin and Trump decide to kill everyone, of course, we won’t be there either. Nobody will.
COMPLEX TIMES to be sure Pete.
LOVE and BE WELL
Neil
UKRAINE
Neil—
Thank you for stepping out and standing up for Ukraine with a free concert at outset of your European tour. Please continue to run articles in the Contrarian supporting democratic resistance to the bullying and insults of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. It would be helpful to also post sources of funding such as CORE and to consider ways NYA Patrons may give.
Lets do something special, a shirt, hat, flag that folks can purchase at GREEDY [GIVING] HAND, like the colorful Ukrainian flag smudge image, with WE STAND WITH UKRAINE, you’ve posted on NYA.
Power to the People,
John
Thanks John
Good ideas.
LOVE Neil
be well
GREAT TRAIN SHOW!
Archives team! Let Neil know about this train show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds will ya? He might be interested.
Tony (I used to be Tony G but there is another Tony G who writes a lot so I will be Tony.) Thx
Tony,
I read these letters myself.
I missed the show!!
Thanks anyway
LOVE and Be well
neil
ON THE BEACH 50 YEARS LATER
Neil, I hope you, Daryl, and the whole team are well.
Our youngest son Jackson called me this morning enthusing about “On the Beach,” and I felt I needed to reach out to you about my conversation with my son about the record.
Of course, both he and I have owned and listened to this record thousands of times and know every note and lyric by heart. But he listened to it yet again today and it stopped him in his tracks, in his words “literally being the ultimate that music is capable of being.” He and I talked about his experience at length—the attitude of the record, how every sound on it creates that view, that attitude, the song sequence, how that whole second side fits together like one continuous song—and on and on. There's so much packed in there, volumes of information and feeling in relatively few words and only eight songs. Just amazing and incredibly fulfilling.
Yes, we have all of your records and the archives stuff, yes, we eagerly await the next record and the next tour. I’m hard-pressed to pick a favorite record. But today, in Texas and in Alaska (where he currently lives), it’s “On the Beach” as a standalone testament. There simply is no better music that can be made anywhere, at any time.
Thank you isn’t a strong enough statement, but I just have no other words. So thank you for this, my friend.
Texas Dave
Texas Dave
Thanks Man
SO glad you BOTH are enjoying the music.
I am very much looking forward to playing live again!!
LOVE NEIL
BE WELL